CROFTS, Oliver
Born in 1999, Oliver Crofts is a Clarinettist based in Melbourne Australia. Oliver is active as a freelance orchestral musician, performing across the country with Australia’s leading symphonic orchestras.
He is currently casual musician with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony, Orchestra Victoria, Opera Australia, Tasmanian Symphony & West Australian Symphony Orchestra.
Oliver is an alumnus of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellowship (2025) and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Academy (2023). He is also an alumnus of the Australian National Academy of Music, where he studied with David Thomas (Principal Clarinet MSO). During his time at ANAM, Oliver was recipient of the ANAM Chamber Music Prize for his performance of the Brahms Clarinet Trio (2021) and Messiaen Quartet for the End of Time (2022). He was also semifinalist in the ANAM Concerto Competition (Jean Francaix Clarinet Concerto) and gave the world premiere performance of Elena Kats Chernin ‘Grand Rag’, broadcast live on 3MBS and ABC Radio as part of The ANAM Set. Concurrent with Oliver’s training at ANAM, Oliver performed extensively with the Australian Youth Orchestra from 2021-23 (Principal/Section Clarinet).
Oliver is a graduate of the University of Western Australia Conservatorium of Music, where he studied with Allan Meyer (Principal Clarinet WASO) from 2017-19. He was also mentored by Ashley William Smith during this time (Head of Winds UWA). Both Allan and Ashley served as significant inspiration towards Oliver’s development and pursuit of a career in music. Oliver was fortunate to have been selected for masterclasses with Andreas Ottensamer (Principal Clarinet Berlin Philharmonic), Sabine Meyer (International Soloist/Principal Clarinet Berlin Philharmonic), Nicola Boud and Jose-Franch Ballester. Throughout Oliver’s undergraduate degree, he also served as Principal Clarinet of the West Australian Youth Orchestra (2018/19).
More broadly, Oliver is also passionate about educating the future generations of Clarinettists. He is currently teaching Clarinet at Caulfield Grammar School in Melbourne. Oliver also spent many years as chorister and tenor lay clerk in the St George’s Cathedral Choir/Consort directed by Dr. Joseph Nolan. Other significant figures in Oliver’s musical upbringing were Adam Pinto (piano teacher for 10 years), Simon Styles (Clarinet/Sax teacher), Kieran Hurley (Guildford Grammar School) and Sally Christmass (UWA Junior Music School).